Method and System for LNA Adjustment to Compensate for Dynamic Impedance Matching

ABSTRACT

Aspects of a method and system for LNA adjustment to compensate for dynamic impedance matching are provided. In this regard, an antenna matching network may be configured to maximize received signal strength for a determined frequency and an amplifier gain may be adjusted based on the maximized signal strength such that output levels of the amplifier are between specified limits. The antenna matching network may be programmatically controlled via one or more switching elements. The amplifier gain may be programmatically controlled via one or more bias points. The antenna matching network may be configured for a plurality of frequencies in a frequency band, such as an FM broadcast band, and a configuration for each frequency may be stored. Accordingly, when the receiver is tuned to a frequency, a corresponding configuration may be retrieved from memory.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/941,241 filed on Nov. 16, 2007, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention relate to wireless communications.More specifically, certain embodiments of the invention relate to amethod and system for LNA adjustment to compensate for dynamic impedancematching.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the increasing popularity of various wireless standards andtechnologies, there is a growing demand to provide a simple and completesolution for wireless communications applications. In this regard,electronics manufacturers are increasingly attempting to incorporatemultiple wireless technologies into portable electronic devices. Forexample, wireless technologies that are seeing widespread deploymentinclude FM radio, Bluetooth (BT), GPS, Wi-Fi, and RFID.

Although desirable to users, incorporating multiple wirelesscommunication technologies into devices such as wireless handsets maypose problems in terms of cost and complexity. In this regard, combininga plurality of wireless technologies into a portable electronic devicemay require separate processing hardware and/or separate processingsoftware. Moreover, coordinating the reception and/or transmission ofdata to and/or from the portable electronic device may requiresignificant processing overhead that may impose certain operationrestrictions and/or design challenges. Additionally, the device may needto be highly configurable in order to reduce size and cost by sharinghardware.

As an example, consider integrating FM radio systems into a portabledevice such as a smart phone. In this regard, conventional FM broadcastradios have relatively large antennas, which may not be practical forincorporating into a device such as a smart phone. Accordingly, systemdesigners are faced with the challenge of receiving a relatively broadFM broadcast band utilizing an antenna which is electrically very small.In this regard, it may be difficult to reliably and/or consistentlymatch an FM broadcast radio to a relatively small antenna as istypically found in a portable wireless device. Furthermore, thefrequency response of such an electrically small antenna may beincapable and or inefficient at receiving a broad frequency band, suchas the FM broadcast band.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, throughcomparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention asset forth in the remainder of the present application with reference tothe drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system and/or method is provided for LNA adjustment to compensate fordynamic impedance matching, substantially as shown in and/or describedin connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth morecompletely in the claims.

These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the presentinvention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, willbe more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a conventional FM broadcast radio antenna in comparisonto a smart phone antenna which may be utilized for receiving FMbroadcast signals, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating an exemplary frequency response of anantenna and tuning the antenna to cover a broad frequency band, inconnection with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrates gain adjustment of an LNA to compensatefor gain variations in an antenna and/or a matching circuit, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram of an exemplary system enabled to adjust anLNA to compensate for gain variations, in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 3B is a diagram of an exemplary matching network, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3C is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary biasing arrangementof an LNA, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps for adjusting an LNAto compensate for gain variations in a signal received from adynamically impedance matched antenna, in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and systemfor LNA adjustment to compensate for dynamic impedance matching. In thisregard, an antenna matching network may be configured to maximizereceived signal strength for a determined frequency and an amplifiergain may be adjusted based on the maximized signal strength such thatoutput levels of the amplifier are between specified limits. The antennamatching network may be programmatically controlled via one or moreswitching elements. The amplifier gain may be programmaticallycontrolled via one or more bias points. The antenna matching network maybe configured for a plurality of frequencies in a frequency band, suchas an FM broadcast band, and a configuration for each frequency may bestored. Accordingly, when tuning the receiver to a frequency, acorresponding configuration may be retrieved from memory.

FIG. 1 depicts a conventional FM broadcast radio antenna in comparisonto a smart phone antenna which may be utilized for receiving FMbroadcast signals, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a communication device 104 withantenna 106, a smart phone 102 with antenna 108, and an FM broadcastsignal 110.

The communication device 104 may be enabled to receive, demodulate,detect, and present audio signals in the FM broadcast band. In manyinstances, the antenna 106 may be several feet long and its length maycomprise a significant percentage of the wavelength of a signal in theFM broadcast band. Consequently, the electrically large antenna 106 maybe enabled to couple a significant amount of energy from the signal 110into the communication device 104 over the entire FM broadcast band. Inthis manner, the communication device 104 may be enabled to receive theentire FM broadcast band without adjusting the antenna or associatedcircuitry.

The smart phone 102 may also be enabled to receive, demodulate, detect,and present audio signals in the FM broadcast band. However, due atleast in part to its small size, the antenna 108 may need tuning oradjustment to sufficiently couple the signal 110 to the smart phone 102over the entire FM broadcast band. Accordingly, the smart phone 102 maycomprise, for example, a matching network that, in effect, enablestuning the frequency response of the antenna. However, as describedbelow with respect to FIG. 2A, adjusting a matching network to alter thefrequency response of the antenna may result in received signal strengthvarying over the range of frequencies. Accordingly, aspects of theinvention may enable adjusting the gain of an LNA to compensate forvariations in signal strength over frequency. In this manner, an FMbroadcast receiver in the smart phone 102 may be presented with uniformsignal strength over the entire FM broadcast band.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating an exemplary frequency response of anantenna and tuning the antenna to cover a broad frequency band, inconnection with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2Athere is shown a graph illustrating the response of an antenna such asthe antenna 108 described in FIG. 1. In this regard, waveform 202 may bethe frequency response of the antenna 108 when an associated matchingnetwork tunes the antenna to be entered at f_(L). Waveform 204 may bethe frequency response of the antenna 108 when an associated matchingnetwork tunes the antenna to be centered at f_(C). Waveform 206 may bethe frequency response of the antenna 108 when an associated matchingnetwork tunes the antenna to be entered at f_(H). In this regard, asillustrated by the overall envelope 208, the antenna and associatedcircuitry may exhibit varying gain over the desired range offrequencies. Accordingly, if coupled to a constant gain LNA, signalsreceived by the antenna 108 of FIG. 1 may result in the LNA outputvarying widely with frequency. In this manner, components such as amixer, coupled to the LNA output may need to handle signals of widelyvarying signal strength. Consequently, complexity and cost of receivercomponents may increase. Accordingly, aspects of the invention mayenable adjusting the gain of the LNA in order to compensate for thefrequency dependence of the antenna and associated circuitry, thusreducing cost and complexity of downstream receiver components.

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating gain adjustment of an LNA tocompensate for gain variations in an antenna and/or a matching circuit,in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2B,there is shown the signal envelope 208, as described with respect toFIG. 2A, a LNA gain characteristic 220, and a compensated LNA output224.

In operation, an antenna and associated antenna tuning circuitry mayhave the frequency response 208. Accordingly, a LNA to which the antennaand/or antenna tuning circuitry are coupled may be adjusted such thatthe gain over frequency is as depicted by the waveform 220. In thismanner, the gain of the LNA may compensate for the frequency response ofthe antenna and associated antenna tuning circuitry such that the outputof the LNA may be uniform in amplitude over the range of operation asillustrated by the waveform 224.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram of an exemplary system enabled to adjust anLNA to compensate for gain variations, in accordance with an embodimentof the invention. Referring to FIG. 3A there is shown system 300 coupledto an antenna an antenna 108. The system 300 may comprise a configurablematching network 304, a LNA 306, a mixer 308, a signal strengthindicator (SSI) 310, a memory 312, and a processor 314.

The antenna 108 may be as described with respect to FIG. 1. In thisregard, the antenna 108 may be electrically short with respect to FMbroadcast wavelengths. Accordingly, the antenna 108 may exhibit afrequency response similar to that depicted in FIG. 2A. Likewise, theconfigurable matching network 304 may enable altering the frequencyresponse, as shown in FIG. 2A, to enable the antenna 108 to receivesignals across the FM broadcast band.

The configurable matching network (CMN) 304 may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, and/or code that may enable matching the system 300 to theantenna 108 over a range of frequencies. In this regard the matchingnetwork 304 may comprise one or more active components, passivecomponents, and/or switching elements. In one embodiment of theinvention, the matching network may comprise an LC network with one ormore variable capacitances and/or inductances. In this regard thevariable capacitance may be a bank of capacitors configured via a numberof switching elements. Similarly, the variable inductance may be a bankof inductors configured via a number of switching elements.

The LNA 306 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that mayenable amplification of received RF signals. In this regard, the gain ofthe LNA 306 may be adjustable to enable reception of signals of varyingstrength. The LNA 306 may receive one or more control signals from theprocessor 314 and/or the memory 312. The gain of the LNA 306 may becontrolled based on strength of the signal 305 output from theconfigurable matching network 304. Accordingly, the gain of the LNA maybe adjusted over frequency, as depicted in FIG. 2B, in order tocompensate for variations over frequency of the strength of signal 305,and maintain the signal 301 with determined limits. In variousembodiments of the invention, the gain may be adjusted via one or morebias voltages and/or currents. For example, a binary weighted currentsource may bias one or more transistors comprising the LNA 306. Anexemplary embodiment comprising bias network 320 and 322 is describedwith respect to FIG. 3C.

The SSI 310 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that mayenable determining signal levels. In this regard, the SSI 310 may, forexample, be enabled to measure current, voltage and/or power of thesignal 301. Additionally, the SSI 310 may be enabled to conveymeasurement results to the memory 312 and/or the processor 314 via thebus 303. In various embodiments of the invention, the SSI 310 may outputone or more digital and/or analog signals 313 representative of thecurrent, voltage and/or power of the signal 311.

The memory 312 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or code thatmay enable storing control/configuration information for the system 300.In this regard, the memory may store information for determining and/orcontrolling the gain of the LNA and/or the configuration of theconfigurable matching network 304. For example, the memory may store atable or similar data structure with data records comprising LNA gainand CMN configuration indexed by desired frequency of operation of thesystem 300.

The processor 314 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or codethat may enable controlling operations of the system 300. In thisregard, the processor 314 may provide control/configuration signals tothe CMN 304, the LNA 306, the SSI 310, and/or the memory 312.Additionally, the processor 314 may enable data transfers between theCMN 304, the LNA 306, the SSI 310, and/or the memory 312 via the bus313.

In an exemplary operation, the CMN 304 may be configured to tune theantenna to a desired frequency. In this regard, configuration of the CNM304 may be performed by maximizing the strength of the received signalutilizing the SSI 310 with the LNA 306 set to a fixed gain. Moreover,configuration may be controlled by the processor 314, which may readand/or write information pertaining to the configuration from/to thememory 312. Once the received signal is maximized with the LNA 306 setto a fixed gain, the gain of the LNA 306 may be adjusted such thatsignal 301 is brought within determined limits.

FIG. 3B is a diagram of an exemplary matching network, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 3B there is showntwo banks of capacitors 354 a and 354 b with corresponding switchnetworks 355 a, 355 d, and a bank of inductors 356 with correspondingswitch networks 355 b and 355 c. Each of the switch networks 355 maycomprise a plurality of switches which may be controlled via a digitalword, for example. In this regard the capacitance between node 351 andground may be programmatically controlled. Similarly the capacitancebetween node 353 and ground may be programmatically controlled. Also,the inductance between nodes 351 and 353 may be configured. Accordingly,the matching network 304 may enable matching, for example, the input ofthe LNA 306 to the antenna 108 over a range of frequencies.

FIG. 3C is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary biasing arrangementof an LNA, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referringto FIG. 3C, there is shown the LNA 306 and bias networks 320 and 322.

The bias networks 3290 and 322 may each comprise suitable logic,circuitry, and or code that may enable controlling a voltage and/orcurrent provided to the LNA 306. In this manner, one or more controlsignals received via the bus 303 may control the voltage and/or current.Moreover, the gain of the LNA 306 may be dependant on the voltage and/orcurrent.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps for adjusting an LNAto compensate for gain variations in a signal received from adynamically impedance matched antenna, in accordance with an embodimentof the invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the exemplary steps may beginwith step 402 when the 300 begins a calibration routine. Subsequent tostep 402, the exemplary steps may advance to step 404. In step 404, acounter T may be initialized to 0. The counter T may determine thenumber of frequencies at which the receiver is calibrated. Subsequent tostep 404, the exemplary steps may advance to step 406.

In step 406, the receiver may be tuned to a frequency F_(j). Forexample, for an FM broadcast receiver, F₀ may be 87.5 MHz and F_(jmax)may be 108 MHz. Subsequent to step 406 the exemplary steps may advanceto step 408. In step 408, the CMN 304 may be adjusted to maximize thesignal 305 input to the LNA 306. In this regard, the CNM 304 may betuned such that the frequency response of the antenna 108 and CNM 304 iscentered at F_(j). In this regard, the processor 314 may configure theLNA for a fixed gain and utilize readings from the SSI 310 to adjust theCNM 304 for maximum signal strength. Subsequent to step 408, theexemplary steps may advance to step 410.

In step 410, the configuration resulting in maximum signal strength forfrequency F_(j) may be stored to the memory 312. Subsequent to step 410the exemplary steps may advance to step 412. In step 412, the LNA 306may be adjusted such that the signal 301 is within determined limits. Inthis regard, in instances where a relatively strong signal may bereceived from the CMN 304, then the gain of the LNA may be adjusted tobe relatively small. Conversely, in instances where a relatively weaksignal may be received from the CMN 304 the gain of the LNA may beadjusted to be relatively large. Subsequent to step 412, the exemplarysteps may advance to step 414.

In step 414, the LNA gain resulting in the signal 301 within determinedlimits for frequency F_(j) may be stored to the memory 312. Subsequentto step 414 the exemplary steps may advance to step 416. In step 416,the counter ‘j’ may be incremented. Subsequent to step 414, theexemplary steps may advance to step 418. In step 418, it may bedetermined if T is equal to a maximum value. In this regard, the maximumvalue of ‘j’ may correspond to a number of frequencies at which thereceiver may be calibrated. If T is not equal to a maximum value, thenthe exemplary steps may return to step 406. If ‘j’ equal to a maximumvalue, then the calibration routine may be complete and the exemplarysteps may advance to step 420.

Aspects of a method and system for LNA adjustment to compensate fordynamic impedance matching are provided. In this regard, the antennamatching network 304 (FIG. 3A) may be configured to maximize receivedsignal strength for a determined frequency and the amplifier 306 gainmay be adjusted based on the maximized signal strength such that outputlevels of the amplifier 306 are between specified limits. The antennamatching network 304 may be programmatically controlled (e.g., by theprocessor 312 and/or the memory 314) via one or more switching elements355 (FIG. 3B). The amplifier gain may be programmatically controlled viaone or more bias points controlled, in turn, by one or more biasnetworks 320, 322 (FIG. 3A). The antenna matching network 304 may beconfigured for a plurality of frequencies in a frequency band, such asan FM broadcast band, and a configuration for each frequency may bestored in the memory 312. Accordingly, when tuning the receiver 300 to afrequency, a corresponding configuration may be retrieved from thememory 314.

Another embodiment of the invention may provide a machine-readablestorage, having stored thereon, a computer program having at least onecode section executable by a machine, thereby causing the machine toperform the steps as described herein for LNA adjustment to compensatefor dynamic impedance matching.

Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software. The presentinvention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least onecomputer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elementsare spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind ofcomputer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methodsdescribed herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware andsoftware may be a general-purpose computer system with a computerprogram that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computersystem such that it carries out the methods described herein.

The present invention may also be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of aset of instructions intended to cause a system having an informationprocessing capability to perform a particular function either directlyor after either or both of the following: a) conversion to anotherlanguage, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different materialform.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1-24. (canceled)
 25. A method for signal processing, the methodcomprising: performing, by one or more circuits comprising a signalstrength indicator: configuring, based on measurements from the signalstrength indicator, an antenna matching network in a receiver tomaximize received signal strength for a determined frequency; andadjusting a gain of an amplifier within the receiver based on themaximized signal strength such that output levels of the amplifier arebetween specified limits.
 26. The method according to claim 25,comprising programmatically controlling the antenna matching network byone or more signals that control one or more switching elements.
 27. Themethod according to claim 25, comprising programmatically adjusting thegain of the amplifier by controlling one or more bias points.
 28. Themethod according to claim 25, comprising configuring the antennamatching network for a plurality of frequencies in a frequency band. 29.The method according to claim 28, comprising storing a result of theconfiguring for each of the plurality of frequencies.
 30. A system forsignal processing, the system comprising: one or more circuitscomprising a signal strength indicator, the one or more circuits beingoperable to configure, based on measurements from the signal strengthindicator, an antenna matching network in a receiver to maximizereceived signal strength for a determined frequency; and the one or morecircuits are operable to adjust a gain of an amplifier within thereceiver based on the maximized signal strength such that output levelsof the amplifier are between specified limits.
 31. The system accordingto claim 30, wherein the one or more circuits are operable toprogrammatically control the antenna matching network by one or moresignals that control one or more switching elements.
 32. The systemaccording to claim 30, wherein the one or more circuits are operable toprogrammatically adjust the gain of the amplifier by controlling one ormore bias points.
 33. The system according to claim 30, wherein the oneor more circuits are operable to configure the antenna matching networkfor a plurality of frequencies in a frequency band.
 34. The systemaccording to claim 33, wherein the one or more circuits comprise amemory that is operable to store a result of the configuring for each ofthe plurality of frequencies.
 35. A method for signal processing, themethod comprising: performing, by one or more circuits: configuring anantenna matching network in a receiver to maximize received signalstrength for a determined frequency, wherein the antenna matchingnetwork comprises a bank of capacitances and a bank of inductances; andadjusting a gain of an amplifier within said receiver based on saidmaximized signal strength such that output levels of said amplifier arebetween specified limits.
 36. The method according to claim 35,comprising programmatically controlling the bank of capacitances by oneor more signals that control one or more switching elements.
 37. Themethod according to claim 35, comprising programmatically controllingthe bank of inductances by one or more signals that control one or moreswitching elements.
 38. The method according to claim 35, wherein: thebank of capacitances is a first bank of capacitances; the antennamatching network comprises a second bank of capacitances; and the bankof inductances is positioned between the first bank of capacitances andthe second bank of capacitances.
 39. The method according to claim 38,wherein each of the first bank of capacitances, the second bank ofcapacitances, and the bank of inductances is separately controlled by acorresponding bank of switching elements.
 40. A system for signalprocessing, the system comprising: one or more circuits that areoperable to configure an antenna matching network in a receiver tomaximize received signal strength for a determined frequency, whereinthe antenna matching network comprises a bank of capacitances and a bankof inductances; and the one or more circuits are operable to adjust again of an amplifier within said receiver based on said maximized signalstrength such that output levels of said amplifier are between specifiedlimits.
 41. The system according to claim 40, wherein the one or morecircuits are operable to programmatically control the bank ofcapacitances by one or more signals that control one or more switchingelements.
 42. The system according to claim 40, wherein the one or morecircuits are operable to programmatically control the bank ofinductances by one or more signals that control one or more switchingelements.
 43. The system according to claim 40, wherein: the bank ofcapacitances is a first bank of capacitances; the antenna matchingnetwork comprises a second bank of capacitances; and the bank ofinductances is positioned between the first bank of capacitances and thesecond bank of capacitances.
 44. The system according to claim 43,wherein each of the first bank of capacitances, the second bank ofcapacitances, and the bank of inductances is separately controlled by acorresponding bank of switching elements.